Vehicle door mounting



Aug. 11, 1936. F M s H VEHICLE DOOR MOUQTING Filed Sept. 5, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l Aug. 11, 1936. F. M. SMITH 2,050,469

VEHICLE DOOR MOUNTING Filed Sept. 5, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 11, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VEHICLE DOOR MOUNTING born, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application September 5, 1935, Serial No. 39,307 R S 5 U (Cl. 296-44) 14 Claims.

\ portions on the body or door, or on both, to which the hinges are attached in different planes.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a new and improved hinge mechanism for mounting the doors on vehicle bodies having ourvilinear sides in such a manner that the doors will swing free of the adjacent curved edges of the vehicle body and doorway.

Further objects are the provision of a new and improved hinge mechanism for vehicle doors and the like that is inexpensive to manufacture, efficient in use, may be adjusted to fit vehicle bodies having walls of various contours and that may be attached and adjusted with a minimum of time and labor.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which disclose embodiments of the invention by way of example and in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a motor vehicle with the invention in position thereon;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a hinge edge portion of the door and the body .to which the hinge mechanism is attached with parts broken away and on an enlarged scale and showing the door in closed position;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2 and showing the door in open position and with parts broken away;

Fig. 4 is a section of the lower hinge member on the line 4-.4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of the hinge plates;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the cooperating hinge plate;

Fig. '7 is a perspective view of the joint mechanism showing the parts separated for the sake of clearness Fig. 8 is a section of the upper hinge member on the line 8-8 of Fig. 2;

Figs. 9 and 10 are each perspective views of the hinge plates of the upper hinge member;

Fig. 11 is a side elevation of a portion of a door and body showing a modified form of binge mechanism;

Fig. 12 is a section on the line l2--|2 of Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is a section on the line l3l3 of Fig. 11; and

Fig. 14 is a section on the line l4l4 of Fig. 11.

In mounting doors on curvilinear or irregular surfaces, as automobile bodies and the like, great difficulty has been experienced in so mounting the hinges that they will not bind and prevent the 5 doors from opening properly.- It is common practice to use hinges of the pintle type in mounting the doors on vehicle bodies, but such hinges require the pintles to be in alignment, and on the modern vehicle bodies that usually means one or 10 more of the hinges must extend laterally outward beyond the surface of the body to such an extent as to afford considerable air resistance to the rapid transit of the vehicle.

The present invention seeks to overcome these 15 difliculties by the provision of hinges that do not require the attaching surfaces of the vehicle to be in a common plane but may be attached to surfaces in planes arranged at angles to each other, but do not extend outwardly an objection- 20 able distance from the surface to which they are attached. Or, if desired, these hinges may be housed entirely within such surface, thereby minimizing or entirely avoiding resistance to the air on moving vehicles 25 Referring now to the drawings, the reference character In designates a motor vehicle having a streamline body H, a door 12 and supporting wheels I3. The side walls I4 of the body may be curvilinear on their outer surface and the body 30 may be ovate in cross section.

While the surface of the body and the door to which the hinge mechanism is secured is shown as being curvilinear, it is understood that they may be of any other suitable contour. 35

Suitable hinge mechanism is provided for hingedly connecting the door to the body so that the door will be free to swing for opening the same. In the form of the construction selected to illustrate an embodiment of the invention, a plurality of hinge members are provided which are attached to the adjacent edges of the door and body adjacent the door opening.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, two hinge devices are shown and will be described 45 for hlngedly connecting the door to the body an upper hinge member l5 and a lower hinge member I6.

The lower hinge member i6 comprises a body attaching plate IT, a door attaching plate I8 and a connecting member IS. The body attaching plate I! is fiat on its inner side for engaging the side of the body and may be a casting provided with a plurality of threaded openings 2| on its innersurface in which c;.p screws 22 extend 55 through the body wall for clamping the plate to the body, as shown more clearly in Fig. 4.

The outer surfaces of the plate I1 is streamlined, as are all the other hinge plates, by being curved both longitudinally and transversely. The

, portion of the plate adjacent to the door, whichfor convenience of descriptionwill be termed the rear end of the plate, is provided with a socket 23 for receiving the spherical head 24 of the connector member l9. A slot 25 on the outer and rear surfaces of the plate I1 is in communication with the socket 23 through which the shank 26 of the connector member l9 extends. In order to hold the head IS in the bottom of the socket 23, and for preventing looseness and rattling of the parts, aspring 2'| and a cap 28 are introduced between the wall and the plate l4. The outer end of the shank 26 is screw threaded for engaging the cooperating hinge plate i8, as will presently appear.

The hinge plate i8 may also be cast and is preferably provided with screw threaded openings 29 which are adapted to be engaged by studs 3i ,for clamping the plate to the body. The forward end of the hinge plate I8 is provided with a threaded opening 32 in which is adjustably mounted the shank 26 of the connector i9. The meeting ends of the hinge plates may be complementary curved, as shown at 33 in Fig. 4, for making a close joint and permitting the opening of the door.

The upper hinge member is similar to the lower but differs from it in that the hinge plate attached to the door extends over the edgeof the body to compensate for the ovate form of the body wall. Its length will depend on the curve of thebody wall between the hinges. It must be suiiiciently long that when the door is opened, it may move outwardly to free the curved surface 30 of the body.

The upper hinge comprises a hinge plate 34 which may also be cast and is provided with a plurality of threaded openings 35 in its outer end which are adapted to be engaged by studs 31 extending through the frame of the door l2 for clamping the hinge plate thereto. The plate may be, and preferably is, provided with a flange 36 which is adapted to engage the front edge of the door and is secured thereto by a plurality of fastening members, such as the bolts 38, extending through the door frame. The hinge member is also provided with a hinge plate 39 which is attached to the side wall and frame member 46 of the car by suitable fastening means, as the studs II, which extend through the side wall and engage threaded openings 42 in the hinge plate. The hinge plate is provided with a socket 43 similar to the socket 23 of the hinge plate I1 and with a slot 44 of less width than the diameter of the socket. 43. A connector member 45 has a spherical head 46 engaging in the socket 43 and is provided with a threaded shank 41 which is adapted to engage a threaded opening 48 in the forward end of the hinge plate 34. The

head 46 is held in the bottom of the socket 43 by a spring-pressedcap 49 which has a concave surface for engaging the spherical head 46. A spring 5| is compressed between the body wall and the cap 49 when the hinge plate is secured in position on the body wall.

In assembling the hinge devices, theconnector members I! and 45 are placed in position by inserting the shanks through the sockets and slots from the inner side before the plates are attached to the body walls. The hinge plates [8 and 34 are then attached to the shanks of the connector member and the hinge members connected to the door and body walls. The hinge sections may be adjusted by threading the shanks in or out of the hinge plates.

The form of the construction shown in Figs. 11 to 14, inclusive, differs from that described above in that, instead of attaching the hinge members to the outer surface of the body walls, provision is made for securing the hinge members within the contour of the body walls. In the form of construction shown, which is by way of example only, these hinge devices each comprise a door attaching plate 52 which is in the form of an angle having a flange 53 extending along the forward edge of the door on the inner side of the frame 50 and is secured thereto with a fastening means 54. The plate is also provided with a flange 55 which is secured to the door or door frame as by means of the bolt 56 or other suitable fastening means. The plate is provided with a boss 51 having a screw threaded opening 58.

The upper and lower hinges differ in detail of construction due to the contour of the body and door on which they are used. In the form of the construction shown, the lower hinge device 6| is provided with a hinge plate 62 which is adapted to be connected to the body wall or frame 64. The plate 62 is provided with a flange 63 extending inwardly along the inner face of the frame 64 for the door opening and with aflange 65 which is adapted to be connected to the body wall. The plate 62 is rabbeted, as at- 66, on its outer surface, providing an extension 61 which is adapted to extend outwardly through an opening in the body wall so that its outer surface is flush with said body wall, as shown more clearly in Fig. 14. The flange 63 is connected to the frame 64 by suitable fastening means, such as the bolt 68. The plate 62 is provided with a socket 69 for receiving a spherical head ll of the connector member 12. The plate is also provided with a slot 13 in connecticn with the socket 69 and through which the threaded shank 14 of the connector member 12 is adapted to extend. The head II is held in the bottom of the socket by a cap 15 which is com pressed downwardly against the head by a spring 16 located in the opening leading to the socket. The spring is held compressed by an angle bar 11 which may be secured in position across the opening by the bolt 68, as clearly shown in Fig. 14.

The upper hinge 18 is provided with a plate member 19 having a recess 8| in its outer surface (see Fig. 13) for receiving the shank 82 of the connector member 83. This plate is secured to the inner surface of the body wall, and the body wall and the reinforcing frame member 84 are slotted, as at 85 (Fig. 13) in alignment with the depression 8|, through which a shank 82 of the connector member 83 is adapted to pass when the door is opened or closed. The hinge plate 19 has an enlargement at its forward end and is provided with a bore 86, terminating in a socket 81 for receiving the spherical head 88 of the connector member 83. The head 88 is held in the socket by a cap 89 which is engaged by a spring 9i and held in position by a plug 92 threaded in the outer end of the bore 86.

The rear end of the connector member 83 is screw threaded and engages the threaded opening 58 in the hinge plate 52.

In order to close the slot 85 when the door is closed, the connector member 83 may be provided with a finishing strip 93 secured thereto in any suitable manner, the outer surface of which is flush with the outer surface of the body wall when the door is closed.

The slots in the outer surfaces of the body hinge plates may extend through any desired number of degrees. As shown, they extend through approximately 90 and the outer ends of these slots constitute stops or shoulders for engaging the connector member for limiting the opening movement of the door.

By varying the relative lengths of the hinge plates and connector members, various characteristic door movements may be obtained. For instance, the plates and connector members may be so constructed and adjusted for bodies having walls and doors of any particular contour or shape that the axis about which the door hinges may be perpendicular or inclined forwardly, rearwardly or laterally relative thereto, whereby the door will tend to remain in any partly opened or wholly opened position or if inclined will tend to move to either opened or closed position, depending upon the direction of inclination of such axis. Since the turning movement is about ball and socket joints, it is not necessary that the hinge plates be attached to surfaces in a common plane as the plates may be attached to surfaces arranged at various angles within certain limits. This is considered an important feature of the invention since accuracy in attachment of the hinge is avoided.

It will be noted that in both forms of construction the body is ovate in cross section and the point where the upper hinge is applied is inward of the point of attachment for the lower hinge. It will also be seen that the doors may be opened through 90 only.

In order that the top and bottom edges of the door shall remain more nearly horizontal or parallel with the ground level when the door is opened, the hinge joint of the upper hinge is offset longitudinally of the vehicle to compensate for this inward inclination of the hinge axis. The hinge axis of the door is, therefore, diagonally inclined, that is, it is inclined both transversely and longitudinally of the vehicle. As a result of this diagonal inclination of the hinge axis,the door, when opened, will, in theory, tend to close until it is turned to the neutral position in the vertical plane of the hinge axis and beyond that it tends to swing to open position.

In practice, however, since the turning movement of the door is small at each side of the neutral position and zero at that position, the friction of the parts will retain the door in open or any partly-open position to which it may be moved.

When, after continued use, the door begins to sag, he difiiculty may be remedied by shortening the effective length of the upper connector rod or by lengthening the effective length of the lower one. This may be readily accomplished by opening the door and adjusting the rod by the aid of a pipe wrench.

The hinge plates in the form of construction shown in Figs. 1 to 10 may be comparatively thin and their outer surfaces will be streamlined, that is, their forward portion may be more or less semi-bulbous, tapering toward their rear ends and curved transversely on their outer surfaces. In the form shown in Figs. 11 to 14, no part of the hinge extends laterally beyond the outer surface of the vehicle wall. In any event, the hinge does not protrude to such an extent 'as to constitute a serious obstruction to the smooth flow of air along the surface of the body at high speeds.

I claim as my invention:

1. In combination, a vehicle body having a culvilinear outer wall provided with an opening, a closure for said opening, and hinge members for said closure secured to the curved portions of said wall, each hinge comprising attaching plates connected together by a universal joint, one of said joints being located to said body forwardly of the other.

2. In combination, a vehicle body provided with an outer wall having its outer surface in a plurality of planes, a door, and hinge members for connecting said door to said wall, each of said hinge members having attaching plates hingedly connected together, the surface of the body to which a plate of one hinge is secured being in a plane at an angle to that of the surface to which a corresponding plate of another hinge is attached.

3. In combination, a vehicle body provided with a wall having portions thereof in diiferent planes, a door for said wall, and hinge members for connecting said door to said body to swing in a substantially horizontal plane, the portions of the body to which one of the hinge members is attached being in a plane at an angle to that to.

which another of said hinge members is attached.

4. In combination, a vehicle body provided with a side wall having portions thereof in different planes, a door for said wall, and hinge members connected to difierent portions of said wall extending in different planes, each of said hinge members being stream-lined and secured to the cuier'surfaceof said door and body, the junction between the hinge sections of one hinge member being spaced longitudinally of the body from that of the other.

5. In combination, a vehicle body, a door therefor, hinge mechanism for said door, said mechanism comprising plates attached to the outer surface of the door and body, and a connector member adjustably connected to one of said hinge plates by a threaded bolt and socket connection and having a universal connection with the other, whereby said hinge may be adjusted without removing the same from the door or body.

6. In combination, a vehicle body, a door therefor, a pair of hinge members for each door, each member comprising a pair of comparatively thin plates rigidly secured to the door and to the adjacent wall of said body, and a connector member threaded into one of said plates and connected to the other by a universal joint.

7. In combination, a vehicle body, a door for said body, a pair of hinge members for hingedly supporting said door from said body, each hinge member comprising a body hinge plate secured to the body and having a ball socket therein and a groove on its outer surface in communication with said socket, a door hinge plate secured to said door adjacent to said body hinge plate, a connector member threaded into said opening and having a ball engaging said socket, and a spring-pressed cap for holding said ball in the bottom of said socket, said connector member engaging in said slot and contacting one end thereof for limiting the outward movement of said door.

8. In combination, a vehicle body, a door for said vehicle body, hinge means for connecting said door to said body, said means comprising hinge plates secured to the interior of said door and body, and a connector adjultably connected to one of said plates and hingedly connected to the other plate by a ball and socket joint.

9. In combination, a vehicle body, a door for said body, a pair of hinge members for said door, each hinge comprising body and door plates secured within said body and door, respectively, said body plate having a socket and a. groove opening outwardly, said how having a slot in alignment with the groove, a connector member adjustably connected to said door plate and having a ball on its opposite end seated in said socket, the intermediate portion of said connector member being seated in said groove when the door is closed, and a finishing strip secured to said connector member for closing said slot.

10. In combination, a vehicle body having its upper portion tapered inwardly, a door therefor, hinge members for hingedly connecting said door to said body, each of said members comprising a body plate secured to saidbody,the plate for the upper hinge being secured to said tapered portion, a door plate secured to said door, and a connector fixed to the door plate and hingedly connected to said body plate, the hinge connection of the upper hinge member being spaced forwardly from that of the lower hinge member, whereby the door will tend to move to open position when released.

, 11. In combination, a vehicle body, a door therefor, hinge members for said door, one of said members comprising a body plate secured to the vehicle body, a door plate secured to the door, a connector screw threadedintosaiddoor plate and having a spherical'end engaging in a socket in the body plate extending through the outer wall of the door and engaging the door plate for clamping the same to the outer surface of the door, a

flange on said plate engaging the edge of said door, and means for clamping said flange to the edge of said door.

12. A hinge comprising a pair of attaching plate members, each member having a plate face provided with threaded openings therein for attaching the same to a support, one of said members having a threaded opening therein and the other having a socket therein, and a connector member having one end threaded in said open- 1 ing and having its other end seated in said socket and means including a resilient element for engaging said other end for preventing rattling and to compensate for wear of the parts.

13. In a hinge for use on vehicle doors, a pair of attaching plates, one of said plates having a socket therein, a groove on its outer surface in communication with said socket, a connector member having a spherical head engaging in said socket, said member having a shank extending through said socket along said groove and adjustably connected to the other plate, and a spring-pressed cap for holding said head in said socket, said cap and spring being inwardly of said head, whereby the cap and spring are concealed when the hinge is applied.

14. In combination, a vehicle body ovate in cross section, a door for said body, upper and lower hinges for hingedly connecting said door to said body, the axis of the joints of said hinges extending diagonally inward whereby said door will tend to close when released at one side of the neutral position of said door, and will tend to open when at the opposite side of the neutral position.

FRANKM. SMITH. 

